Facility Planning for OSC by Jack Hodgkins, Chair of Operations

The operations committee has been hard at work sifting through all of your comments from our questionnaire, building work sessions, and meetings with committees. We would like to share with you some of the comments & solutions that have surfaced as a result of this information.

Worship
A proper place for communion preparation
Space for Sunday coffee preparation and cleanup
Restoration of the Children's Chapel

Heritage
Our responsibility as a National Landmark Building

Flexibility
Keep spaces as multi-purpose as possible
A warm and inviting parlor style meeting space
Storage

Accessibility
Access to Chancel
Access to Gordon Library
Accessible bathrooms
Elevator to basement
Guard railing at front entry
Access to the Club Room or
an accessible room to use for the same purpose
Available office space

Acoustics
Evaluate the acoustics in several of the frequently used spaces
Security
New location for front desk
The possibility of hiring a code consultant
Evaluate the security issues of the preschool

Lighting
Updated and adequate lighting throughout, especially at entry
and in Gordon Chapel
Flexible lighting system for energy saving purposes

Energy Efficiency
Heating zones so that portions of the church can be open
Environmentally friendly plumbing fixtures (use less water)

We are now in the process of quantifying the information and will submit to our architect, Jean Carroon, a program from which she will develop schematic plans and cost estimates for the church to review in September. The Operations Committee has developed the following mission statement to help guide us through this process:

The purpose of Old South Church in Boston is to worship and serve the God of our Sovereign and Savior Jesus Christ. We do this through regular services of worship, through education, through outreach, through pastoral care, and through community building. We retain and support a facility whose mission is to enhance our purpose and enable these functions. Our facility…

· shall be a clear statement to the neighborhood, city and world that it "houses" a vigorous, creative, faithful Christian congregation;

· should retain in its updating of the shell and interior spaces the integrity of its original architectural vernacular;

· should possess upon entrance a welcoming environment;

· should in its spatial designs be attractive, inspiring and inviting;

· should be accessible to all as we seek to provide "an open door";

· should have a secure, well maintained outer shell;

· should be versatile in spaces it makes available for worship, gathering and meeting;

· should provide for the safety of all, infants through adults, without turning the building into an armed camp;

· shall meet the life-safety codes of the city and the Commonwealth;

· should have updated plumbing, heating, electrical systems geared to last well into the new millennium.

The operations committee would like to thank everyone who took the time to answer our questions and come to our work sessions. All your comments very welcome and valid and we appreciate your effort. We look forward to working with you as we move along in this important process.+